chikaidestroyer | ∞ 94: The basics [written/action]

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∞ 94: The basics [written/action]

[written]

Welcome to all the New Feathers of this cycle. I am sure that residents, especially the volunteers working in the Welcome Center, have been helpful as you adjust to your surroundings.

Some may have noticed that there are stations some distance away from the village -- watch stations where New Feathers may find clothing or shelter. Residents may also use them as stopping points as they explore the surrounding forests and plains. They are maintained by a group of volunteers, which has been without a head organizer for a few months now. If anyone is interested in taking on this responsibility, please speak with me, Albert Silverberg.

Recent additions to the enclosure are the expansive farmlands to the northeast of the village. There are numbers of farm animals and growing crops up there that are in need of caretaking. While the village has the grocery store for easy access to food, I am sure some would relish opportunity to work with crops and animals.

If there are any questions about these subjects, they may be asked here. Thank you.

[action]

[Around noon, Albert may be found in the clothing store, looking for clothing for warmer weather. Maybe he'll attempt to tan this year. It's been awhile.

Later in the day, he will be in the stables tending to his horse. He will be out there for several hours before retiring for the evening to the house, reading a "Computers for Seniors for Dummies" book. Very funny, Bil.]

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[He watches as Caesar looks over the stirrups, waiting patiently as he figures them out. Eventually, he speaks again.] They are currently adjusted for my legs.

So they're too low for normal people. Good to know. [Joking aside, it is helpful—it means that they need to be higher for him. So that's what he does, adjusting this weird thing and using his arm to help with the measurements. Once he thinks he has it, he steps back for a moment. Hmm...] Does that look all right?

[He looks at it, nodding after a moment. Caesar is about the same height as Raine, so it doesn't take long to come to that conclusion.] Very good. Now adjust the other one, and then mount.

[He nods, going to the other side and fixing that one, too. He's quiet as he does this, focusing carefully on the task at hand. He doesn't think he can mess it up, but he still makes sure to put in some effort.

Once he's done with that, though, he steps back and gives the saddle another look.]

...now?

[This was the part he had been least looking forward to.]

[Albert raises a brow at the question, lifting a hand to the side of Astrid's head. She seems to be eying Caesar curiously.]

Yes, now. Don't worry -- she won't move.

[The look Astrid's giving him only makes him feel more nervous, but he will try his hardest not to show it anymore than he already has. He reaches a hand up, grabbing onto the saddle, but he doesn't do anything else yet.]

She'd better not.

[It's a mumbled comment before he finally makes an attempt to pull himself up and get his foot on the stirrup.]

[He keeps his hand on Astrid's head, though he doesn't really need to keep her steady as Caesar attempts to get up there. He wonders if Caesar has a good enough grip on the saddle to balance himself and swing his other leg over.]

[Caesar really hopes so. He holds on as tight as he can, and while he's still a little worried about falling, pulling himself up isn't as bad as he thought it'd be. It's that other leg that's a problem. What if he throws himself off balance when he tries to...?

Okay, thinking like that doesn't help. Now that he's up, he can at least use both hands to help himself up, and— Ah. There.

Can you hear that sigh of relief, Albert?]

...that was easier than I thought.

[But he feels no better about it.]

Edited 2011-05-20 09:49 (UTC)

Good. You led off with the correct foot, so you did not end up mounting backwards. [He looks at how Caesar has positioned his legs, nudging at his knees when he sees how tense they are.] Since it's been awhile, the first step will be improving their riding posture by letting you simply sit up there while Astrid walks.

Who makes that kind of mistake, anyway...? [Isn't it common sense to start off like this? ...unless he was implying that that was something Caesar would do, in which case he wouldn't be very impressed. He looks down when his brother nudges at his knees.] Do I have to do anything?

[He was implying that, yes. Look how frazzled you were acting just a few minutes ago, Caesar.] Hold on to the saddle and try not to slouch. You need to exercise your core muscles.

[And he is referring now to how much Caesar can slouch on a normal day. Even though Astrid isn't wearing a bridle, he motions for the horse to walk around the corral. Astrid is more than happy to do so.]

[Caesar looks down at the saddle, as if he has to see it in order to make sure he's actually holding on. After finally getting on the horse, he thought his nerves might settle, but apparently not. Definitely not when Astrid starts walking.

It takes an incredible amount of effort to sit up straight. Way more than usual. And he has to try hard not to complain, just so he doesn't appear more nervous. He takes a breath, and when he's sure he has control of his voice, he speaks up.]

How long do I have to do this...?

Until you stop looking like a scared deer. [Albert's voice is dry as he continues watching, still holding the rest of Astrid's tack.] Once you have somewhat relaxed, we'll introduce the reins.

How am I supposed to relax like this?

[Caesar sighs, hanging his head a little. He's past the point of just wanting to shut his eyes, if only because this posture thing makes him feel even more uncomfortable.]

[If he was the type to roll his eyes, he would be rolling them right now.] Talk about what is it that makes you so uncomfortable up there.

[He frowns. He knew it'd probably help, but he didn't even know how to explain it properly.]

I don't know. I guess it's just... [...this is going to sound so silly.] It's really high. And on the battlefield, they move really fast, too. I know I won't fall, but it's still a possibility, so I keep thinking about it.

Because it's a possibility, and as a strategist you are always thinking about possibilities. [Well, that's a very kind way of looking at it. He knows it's more of a personal fear.] But you've been uncomfortable since you were a child.

[Caesar nods.]

That's right. But even thinking, "I won't fall." doesn't make it go away. [So he couldn't just stop worrying. He tilts his head a bit.] When I was little, I really wanted to learn. Heh. It was a lot scarier back then. And then I didn't want to learn anymore.

No? What caused the change? A bad experience on one of the manor horses?

N-not quite. I just wasn't interested anymore. [Which isn't untrue, but he can't say that it was because he had changed that he lost interest.] I guess I forgot how exciting it looked.

And yet you decided that you want to ride now. [It's not quite an accusatory tone, but it's stern. He's trying to understand Caesar's thinking.]

It could be a useful skill, don't you think? I won't be able to ride much here, but who knows? Maybe I'll get to the next time I'm drafted or something. [...not that he'd be doing it for fun then, of course.] The last time we rode together, it was, uh... kind of nice. And besides that, I guess I kind of wondered why you do it so much.

[Albert clicks his tongue, and Astrid slows down until she comes to a complete stop. He looks at Caesar on his perch.] You could have stopped at "It could be a useful skill."

[Caesar takes a breath before he responds, though he realizes it's not one he needs to relax. He feels a lot better now.]

Would you have believed that was it?

[Because he doubted it, so he might as well be honest.]

No. But you wouldn't be giving me more reason to consider you overly sentimental. [He moves in front of Astrid, setting up her bridle quietly.]